Here we are on the last Friday of June. We've had a pretty much a good solid week of wet here, but one of my peonies has started to bloom and the other ones are close! I think I look forward to the peonies opening more than anything else.
I love to cut them, soak them in soapy water to get rid of the ants and put them in my best crystal vase!
Here is a little mosaic of the one that's blooming now. It's the only one I don't know the name of. It was mislabelled as a 'Bowl of Beauty' when I purchased it at a garden centre a few years ago. There are two tones of pink, and the difference in the two shades is ever-so-subtle.
Another of my favourites, that is in full bloom right now, is Salvia nemorosa Sage 'Caradonna'. It's dark purple flower stalks fade to an almost black seed head, which I leave on right until frost. The seed head looks almost as lovely as the flowers.
The hostas and ferns are really starting to fill in, beside the limestone walkway.
Ditto for my little hosta shade bed in the backyard. (I think I will ask my long-suffereing husband to trim some of the lower branches of the pine tree behind it. That way when the tree is bigger, the hostas will look wonderful under it.)
Happy Weekend and Happy Gardening to everyone! And please check out all the Fertilizer Friday happenings at Tootsie's Blog
Everything looks lovely. I love Hostas and have quite a number here. The Peonies are really gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
I love hostas too but my garden is too slug-ridden to even attempt growing them sadly.
ReplyDeleteLooks great....love your header!
ReplyDeleteThat series of photos of the peony opening is wonderful. Your hosta and fern beds beside the walkway looks great too. Love the kitty sitting by the back yard hosta bed.
ReplyDeleteYour header photo is the epitome of a cottage garden bed!
Such a lovely "flagstone" path! Your peony is so pretty; I wish I knew the name of it too.
ReplyDeletePlease join me in my garden at The Gardening Life
Your peonies look wonderful; Bowl of Beauty is aptly named. My peonies opened exactly a week ago. Unfortunately, we had a hail storm the following day that left them looking pretty bedraggled. I cut the last two buds and brought them inside where they are just starting to open in their vase. Now I can start looking forward to next year's peonies! -Jean
ReplyDeleteDiane, I can't believe how quickly your spring bursts forth and then literally over takes ours. I really love your hostas...just wait till next season...they'll be super huge!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteLovely blooms, I've been considering bowl of beauty too :)
Very pretty peony, even if it isn't bowl of beauty (I hope mine is, I'll know soon). Do you soak the whole blooms in soapy water?
ReplyDeleteI always answer people's questions on their own blogs, but in case anyone else is interested in the answer to Rebecca's question:
ReplyDeleteRebecca, thanks for stopping by. Yes, I soak the whole peony in the soapy water for just a few minutes....then just put them in a vase and sit it in the sink to dry off. It doesn't hurt the flower any more than getting drenched to the ground in rain, and that way no ants come in the house. I actually do this with a lot of flowers.
Hi Diane - Your peonies are beautiful. I don't have any of those in my gardens. Maybe next year! I love your limestone walkway - very nice with the gardens on each side of it.
ReplyDeletethings look wonderful! that mosaic is popping with color!!! I have a couple of hostas here...and the slugs will eventually do a little work on them...lol
ReplyDeleteso..thanks for linking in this week. it is nice to finally get around to say hi and thanks to all the gardeners who patiently grow their flowers and who flaunt with me each week!
oh ya...I am your newest follower...and very happy to be one!
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty hot pink peony. I also love the garden in your header!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed these blooms, too. I deadheaded my 'Caradonna' in hopes that it will bloom again. If it does, I'll leave the seedheads this time.
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous of your yard, D! The few hostas Dad brought for me are thriving, as is our little fern corner. We've got a lilac bush that is blooming as well and R and I planted some peas and carrots. I can see the peas coming up in rows - no sign of the carrots yet.
ReplyDeleteNow working full time I don't have the time or energy to think about flowers :( However we are still enjoying our deck and yard. I will try and take some pics of the two of us when my face has healed!
S